COUNTYWIDE : $5-Million Budget Shortfall Predicted

Ventura County officials are anticipating a $5-million budget shortfall in the general fund for the next fiscal year, according to a preliminary budget report that the Board of Supervisors will discuss Tuesday.

Because of state funding and other uncertainties such as operating funds for the new jail, the shortfall could easily go higher, the report states.

The projected $5-million deficit for the 1992-1993 fiscal year was termed manageable in the report prepared by the office of Chief Administrative Officer Richard Wittenberg.

It would have been a lot worse if not for an anticipated year-end balance of $12 million. The report said the county will end the 1991-1992 fiscal year in good shape because of previous budget-cutting measures.

“Budgetwise, it could be worse for Ventura County” next year, the report states. “Fortunately, we are not in a devastating deficit situation like the state and many other counties.”

However, the state, which supplies about 40% of the county’s revenue, is projecting an $11-billion deficit next year because of the continuing recession.

Last month, the supervisors asked county department heads to cut their budgets for next year by 2.5% to 5%. Those budgets will be turned in this month.

The report advises the supervisors to “expect to see numerous position elimination alternatives which could likely lead to employee layoffs.”

The supervisors took several money-saving measures last year. In December they initiated a hiring freeze. Other measures included across-the-board budget cuts, an early retirement program and cuts in conferences and seminars.